Recently, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it will conduct a preliminary investigation into the relationship between Google and AI startup Anthropic. It's important to note that this investigation is still in its early stages and is not yet formal. The CMA aims to assess whether this partnership could lead to the formation of a "relevant merger situation" and whether it might cause a "substantial lessening of competition" in the UK market by inviting stakeholders and other "interested parties" to provide feedback.
Anthropic was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in San Francisco. It focuses on developing AI systems that are safe, transparent, and risk-controlled, striving to stand out in a competitive market. The company has launched large language models and its chatbot Claude, which is comparable to OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Bard. Since its inception, Anthropic has raised nearly $10 billion, with Google initially investing about $300 million last year and subsequently adding another $2 billion. Additionally, Amazon has invested $4 billion in Anthropic.
In response to large tech companies gaining market control through investments in startups, regulatory agencies have begun to take action. The CMA stated in April that they were investigating several similar transactions, including Microsoft's recent investment in French startup Mistral AI. Although this investment was not deemed to require a formal investigation, the CMA remains vigilant about the investment activities of large companies. Furthermore, the CMA is also investigating the relationship between Amazon and Anthropic and may conduct a comprehensive investigation into the close partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT.
Currently, the CMA invites all interested parties to submit their opinions by August 13, 2024. However, whether it will proceed to a formal "Phase One" investigation depends on Google's investment stake in Anthropic. If Google's investment is considered a minority stake and does not constitute substantial control over Anthropic, the CMA might terminate the investigation, similar to how they handled Microsoft's investment in Mistral AI.
In response, a spokesperson for Anthropic stated that they will cooperate with the CMA, providing complete information about Google's investment and business collaborations, and reiterated the importance of the company's independence. A Google spokesperson emphasized that Google is committed to building an open and innovative AI ecosystem and stated that they do not require Anthropic to use Google Cloud exclusively, as Anthropic has the right to utilize multiple cloud service providers.
Key Points:
🌟 The CMA has initiated an investigation into Google's investment relationship with AI startup Anthropic.
💰 Anthropic has raised nearly $10 billion since its inception, with Google being one of the main investors.
🔍 The CMA invites all parties to provide their opinions by August 13, 2024, to determine whether to proceed with a formal investigation.